The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-12-23
OLDEST SCOUT In THE WEST
Strange Career of jim Baker, Bosom
Friend OF Kit Carson.

WINS Al u nuuole nome on Snake
river, near the boundary line between
Colorado and Wyoming, lives Jim
Baker. He is familiarly known as the
sold Man of the Mountains" For
over fifty years he has been hunter,
trapper. scout and guide on the from
tier. After half a century of thrilling
adventure, both On the plains and In
the mountains, his almost iron cons,i-
tuition refuses to yield its strength to
changing time. He is now over eighty
years of age, and many say older, but
he laughs at his years and says he is
still young. His eye is as keen and
quick as an eagles, even though the
burden of four score years is resting
upon him. His hair is long and silken
and white as the mountain SHOWS. The
locks are curly, and, flowing far down
on his shoulders, make him look verify
the patriarch of the Rocky Mountain
country that he is. His is the most
characteristic face on all the frontier,
and no western artist feels that he has
achieved success until he has painted
old Jim Baker as the finest type and
the last of that old class of hunters
who will ever live in the romance thai,
has always given a mystery to the Dor.
der land between civilization and the
home of the savage. His face is as
rough as the unhewn and rugged rocks
and the sharp rough features show the
strength and nerve that has always
characterized him.
KIT cARsoN's FR1rND.
Kit Carson and Jim Baker for years
We're boon companions and tried and
trus,y friends. Together they fought
many a battle with the Indians, and
went through hundreds of adventures
and hair-breadth escapes. Hence, Kit
Carson spoke from experience when he
said, 81 KAYE never met 3 man in all
the Rocky Mountain country who had "a
nerve like jim Bakers" They both
married squaws and lived happily with
them. Baker fell IN love with q Sho-
shone Indian maid, couried her and
won her after the style of her tribe, and
by her raised u family of half-brecds
we'll known in the west. Some say
that Baker and Carson married sisters,
but that cannot be stated as a fact.
Jim Baker first began to be a promi.
ncnt figure on the frontier about the
time of the coming CT Fremont and Gil
pin, but he had acquired considerable
fame as a hunter even before thai
period. The first time the Fourth OF
July was celebrated in the Rocky
Mountain country was on the st. Vrair
in 1S43 and in that little band wcr,
Fremont, Gilpin, Lieutenant Maxwell
and Jim Baker and Kit Carson
Governor Gilpin is not quite sure now
that it was on the Fourth of July. bu,
it was near that time and the otiec
was the same. The American ii ,g wa,
hoisted and Fremont's old howitze!
Numbered its salute.
One OF Bakers first hard fights will
the Indians was on Dopiphan's marct
at the time of the Mexican war. II,
was scouting with Gilpin's part of tn,
command and came upon a band Of In
dians on the line of the Panhandle
There was a hot sk,rmish, and the ar
rows of the savages came thick ant
fast, and Baker with other scouts wa,
compelled to fall back. The men in
trenched themselves but it was two o.
three days before the Indians were driv
en- back. There is now living at Trim
idad or near there, this stale, an oil.
man who lost both legs in this figh
with the Indians.
1t was the work of Jim Baker as
scout that saved Albert Sidney John
ston's army from starving in his expe
dition against the Mormons. Secretar,
Floyd, under Buchanan's administra
ton, planned a campaign against tn,
Mormons, and about three regiment!
were sen out from Fort Leavenwo1th
and IN their trip across the plain.
dragged along in weary, broken de
tachments. When the first of the cam,
mand reached Fort Bridges, the stray.
glers with the commissary were cut Of
by the Mormons,. and their provisions
destroyed. Johnston was then sent our
to take command, but before he could
begin an active campaign winter had
set IN. Their supply of provisions was
getting small, and they were afraid tc
buy from the Mormons, for fear they
would poison them. Johnston then de.
spatched Captain Marcy with a detail,
to Taos, N. NJ, for provisions and
horses, intrusting this command to jim
Baker as scout and guide.
1t was a long expedition, full OF
danger, in midwinter. Over a thou.
sand miles of an almost unknown
country, covered with deep snow, was
between Johnston and the nearest set.
tlement. But what if there was snow
on the trail? Jim Baker knew the
way. On a recent visit to. Denver
Baker pointed out to a friend the spot
on the Platte where Capt. Marcy stop
ped a few days to rest his men. Part
OF the city of Denver now covers that
old camp ground, and Baker could
sAo piaSS' hGt llGy lDaGG
the trip in safety, purchasing provis-
ions Of Lieut.. Maxwell and horses OF
Kit Carson, expanding about 800. 900.
The return was full of danger. There
were hostile Indians to guard against
on the n side and warlike Mormons
on the other. The winter was severe,
and several times there was danger of
mutiny among Marcey's command. 1t
was a long and perilous march, but
jim Bakers nerve and patience and
words OF encouragement pulled them
through. and Johnston's command of
about ihree thousand men was saved.
jim Baker did good work with Gen
eral Harney at Ash Hollow, and, as the
story Is now told in the west, it was
Bake who discovered the whereabouts
OF the Indians. In that fight was Spot
ted Horse, then only a common war
rior. but who later became a great war
chief. After the battle many souaws
and pappooses were captured and the
indians fed. Baker was with the